Pedestrian accidents occur regularly across the United States. In the busy metropolis that is Baltimore City and its surrounding counties of Baltimore, Howard, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s, the number of pedestrian related accidents rise every year.

Pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes are a serious problem throughout the United States. Pedsafe, a project sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration - has collected statistics from the NHTSA and United States Census Data and provides crash statistics that may provide some insight into this question. According to their data, in 2003 alone, there were 4,749 pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States.

The number of pedestrians killed was decreased in 2011 as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported approximately 4,400 fatal pedestrian accidents in that year.

With respect to Maryland, data shows somewhere between 100 and 130 pedestrians are killed every year in Maryland. 116 pedestrians were killed as a result of traffic accidents in Maryland in 2007, for example. Further, a large percentage of these deaths seem to be occurring in Prince George's County and Baltimore County. (See Pedsafe)

MAIN CAUSES OF PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS

Here are the critical findings from the Data:

- Children are most at risk, especially males. Most common age of injured pedestrian is between age 5 and 9.

- Pedestrian Crashes are most common in urban areas. (72% of all pedestrian fatalities occur in the busy urban traffic congested areas.)

- 65% of all pedestrian crashes, both in Maryland and nationally - do not occur at intersections. This may have something to do with the fact that dart outs (especially involving small children) - usually do not occur at intersections.

- Older pedestrians are less likely to be struck at a non-intersection. Probably because they cross the streets at intersections wherever possible.

- Accidents happen most commonly at the busiest times of day. More traffic equals more danger.

- Speeding is a major factor. Speeding contributed to more than 31% of crashes in the 2003 NHTSA results.

- Alcohol Impairment is also a major factor. Alcohol was involved in over 40% of fatal crashes in the USA in 2003 and over 34% of fatal pedestrian crashes during that same time period.

Distracted Driving- This is a common cause of pedestrian collisions, but perhaps not as common as speeding or alcohol related crashes. A distracted driver is a driver who is not giving full attention to the operation of his/her motor vehicle. Someone who is texting, eating, changing radio stations, or even focusing on a navigation device might be distracted from the roadway.

MOST COMMON PEDESTRIAN INJURIES

It goes without saying that not all pedestrian accidents are fatal. Nevertheless, many pedestrians are left with serious and permanent injuries as a result of being struck by a car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle. The most common types of non-fatal injuries caused to pedestrians are:

If you would like to speak to an attorney directly about a pedestrian accident, please call us today. Our personal injury attorneys have experience helping people who have been struck by a vehicle throughout the States of Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.

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